Behavioral Benefits of a Process-Focused Workout Program: A Quasi-Experimental Test.
exercise
goal focus
outcome
process
self-regulation
weight
Journal
Applied psychology. Health and well-being
ISSN: 1758-0854
Titre abrégé: Appl Psychol Health Well Being
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101502957
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 2020
11 2020
Historique:
received:
19
02
2020
revised:
01
06
2020
accepted:
02
06
2020
pubmed:
8
7
2020
medline:
21
9
2021
entrez:
8
7
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Research suggests that focusing on the process of losing weight (i.e. how to eat and exercise) may be more advantageous for sustained engagement with goal pursuit than focusing on weight loss itself. However, gym-based weight loss programs focus almost exclusively on outcomes (e.g. weight, appearance). Using a quasi-experimental design, this study provides a test of subjective and behavioral outcomes of a process- versus an outcome-focused approach integrated into an 8-week workout challenge at four fitness studios. Four hundred and forty-eight individuals who were enrolled in the workout challenge consented to participate in study assessments at the start of the 8-week challenge, the end of the 8-week challenge, and again 8 weeks later. The process- and outcome-focused programs produced similar subjective experiences, but the process-focused program was associated with greater workout attendance, more adoption of supplemental weight-loss strategies, and higher completion of the program requirements. As compared to traditional outcome-focused approaches, process-focused weight loss programs may elicit behavioral benefits, such as maintaining engagement with the behavioral demands of weight loss.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Research suggests that focusing on the process of losing weight (i.e. how to eat and exercise) may be more advantageous for sustained engagement with goal pursuit than focusing on weight loss itself. However, gym-based weight loss programs focus almost exclusively on outcomes (e.g. weight, appearance). Using a quasi-experimental design, this study provides a test of subjective and behavioral outcomes of a process- versus an outcome-focused approach integrated into an 8-week workout challenge at four fitness studios.
METHODS
Four hundred and forty-eight individuals who were enrolled in the workout challenge consented to participate in study assessments at the start of the 8-week challenge, the end of the 8-week challenge, and again 8 weeks later.
RESULTS
The process- and outcome-focused programs produced similar subjective experiences, but the process-focused program was associated with greater workout attendance, more adoption of supplemental weight-loss strategies, and higher completion of the program requirements.
CONCLUSIONS
As compared to traditional outcome-focused approaches, process-focused weight loss programs may elicit behavioral benefits, such as maintaining engagement with the behavioral demands of weight loss.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
808-827Informations de copyright
© 2020 International Association of Applied Psychology.
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